Unhittable: Luc Rennie Fans Franchise-Record 14, Leads Columbia to Win
July 22, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
COLUMBIA, SC - Luc Rennie labeled his outing on Sunday against Augusta as the best of his seven-year professional career. The right-hander struck out 14 hitters - a new Fireflies single-game franchise record - over seven shut-out innings and led Columbia to a 2-1 victory over the GreenJackets at Spirit Communications Park.
The previous single game mark for strikeouts in a game was 12 (held by Jordan Humphreys and Chris Viall). Rennie punched out his 12th batter in the sixth frame and then struck out two more in the seventh. The 14 strikeouts were also a career high for Rennie, who punched at least one batter out in every inning. There was only one Augusta hitter who did not whiff against the San Diego native. 71 of Rennie's 92 pitches on Sunday were in for strikes (an eye-popping 77%).
Rennie's ERA now sits at a sterling 0.83 in three starts (four appearances, 21.2 IP) since being signed by the Mets on July 5. The right-hander has logged 14.2 consecutive scoreless innings.
Columbia (13-16, 47-49) scored a crucial run in the home half of the seventh after Rennie had just completed his outing. Zach Rheams drove in Matt Winaker with a ground ball through the right side of the diamond. Winaker had tripled to start the frame against reliever Doug Still. It appeared as if Rennie was destined for a win as well.
In the following frame, though, Augusta (12-18, 49-49) tied the score with a solo home run off Jeffry Parra's bat. The Fireflies then came through in the clutch in the bottom half of the eighth. Jay Jabs - in his first home start since May 14 - doubled against John Timmins (L, 0-1) to kick start the frame. Jabs moved to third on a ground out and then tagged and scored the go-ahead run on Edgardo Fermin's sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Conner O'Neil (W, 4-0) shut down the GreenJackets in order in the top of the ninth to clinch the win and a series split (two wins a piece). O'Neil fanned a pair of batters, so in total, Columbia pitchers punched out 16 (one shy of tying the single-game franchise record) and walked none.
Columbia heads to Rome, Georgia, on Monday to start a four-game series with the Braves. First pitch on Monday is scheduled for 7:00 ET at State Mutual Stadium. The expected starters are Chris Viall (3-5, 4.61) for Columbia and Odalvi Javier (2-7, 4.05) for Rome.
You can listen in on FOX Sports Radio 1400 AM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 6:45 p.m.
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